Kidney health and a high-protein diet

New research shows that a high-protein/low-carb diet may be safe for patients with kidney disease.

For years researchers have been concerned about the effect of a high-protein diet on the kidneys. The argument was that a high-protein/low-carb diet is more difficult to digest and alters the body's blood chemistry in such a way that it interferes with overall kidney function. But a new study has found that this may not be the case.

The study, performed by Dr. Allon Friedman of the Indiana University School of Medicine, followed more than 200 obese patients who participated in a low-carb, high-protein diet over a two-year period plus a comparable number of patients who followed a standard low-fat diet over the same time period.

In comparing the two groups, Friedman did not find any noticeably harmful effects on kidney health or function.

“We did not find that a high-protein diet led to any kidney-related problems like lower filtration rates, kidney stones or problems with blood electrolytes,” Friedman said.